THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH THE SURPRISE RESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

ADRIENNE JONES ANNOUNCING YESTERDAY SHE RESIGNED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY BUT WOULD CONTINUE AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

SHE WIELDED THE GAVEL FOR SIX YEARS AS THE FIRST FEMALE SPEAKER AND THE FIRST BLACK SPEAKER IN STATE HISTORY.

IN A STATEMENT SHE DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE MOVE.

SAYING I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

SERVING MY COMMUNITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS A DELEGATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE MARYLAND OF DELEGATES HAS BEEN MY GREATEST HONOR.

THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WILL MEET DECEMBER 16TH TO SELECT A NEW PRESIDING OFFICER.

THE LEADERSHIP VACANCY CALLS INTO QUESTION WHETHER A SPECIAL SESSION COULD BE HELD BEFORE THE NEXT REGULAR SESSION IN JANUARY.

SPEAKER JONES HAD BEEN AMONG THOSE ADVOCATING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO REDRAW THE STATE'S CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATS WANT BLUE STATES TO ANSWER REDISTRICTING MOVES BY RED STATES THAT COULD DETERMINE CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

[♪♪] JOINING US NOW ARE TWO PEOPLE WITH HANDS ON MAP MAKING EXPERIENCE.

PAT MURRAY IS THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE.

AND TEACHES AT MCDANIEL COLLEGE.

AND WALTER OLSON IS THE FORMER CO-CHAIR OF REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS UNDER GOVERNOR HOGAN AND IS A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE CATO INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

LET'S START WITH YOUR MAP MAKING STREET KRED IF WE CAN BEGIN.

PAT, WHAT WERE YOUR HANDS ON EXPERIENCES?

>> A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A DECADE AGO WHEN WE DID THE REDISTRICTING AFTER THE 2010 CENSUS, I WAS A DEPUTY STAFF OF STAFF AT THAT TIME TO THE LATE SENATOR MILLER AND THE LEAD SENATE STAFFER ON CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING THAT CYCLE.

>> Jeff: AND WALTER I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR CREDENTIALS ALSO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT REDISTRICTING IT IS A RUBRIC'S CUBE THING YOU THINK OF THE PARTY BALLOONS WHERE YOU PUSH ON ONE SIDE AND THE AIR HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

YOU'RE CREDENTIALS AND HOW YOU SEE THIS TASK?

>> AT GOVERNOR HOGAN'S CITIZENS COMMISSION WE WERE GIVEN THE TASK OF DOING LEGAL AND FAIR AND POLITICALLY BLINDED DISTRICTS.

WE WERE NOT LOOK AT QUESTIONS LIKE WERE PARTY REGISTRATION WAS HIGHER OR LOWER OR WHERE LEGISLATORS LIVED.

YES, WE RAN INTO AS FIRST-TIMERS, THE ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW CHANGING SOMETHING ON ONE END OF THE STATE CAN AFFECT ANOTHER END OF THE STATE ABOUT HOW WHEN IT GOT TO PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT HOW RIVALRIES AND SENSES OF UNITY BETWEEN COMMUNITIES THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT COULD LEAD TO DISCONTENT WITH YOUR INITIAL ATTEMPT TO DRAW LINES.

SO GAVE ME A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS.

LET ME CONCLUDE THAT WE ARE MORE YEARS AWAY FROM LETTING COMPUTERS TAKEOVER THE JOB THAN I MIGHT HAVE ASSUMED.

>> Jeff: MORE YEARS AWAY WE ARE NOT HAVING A.I.

DRAW THE MAP?

>> THE A.I.

COULD SOMETIMES DRAW CIRCULAR DISTRICTS WHICH NO ONE WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN.

OR IN OTHER INSTANCES EVEN IF THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN MINIMAL TRAINING HOW TO CROSS THE CHESAPEAKE BRIDGE, THEY WOULDN'T GET THE LITTLER THINGS THEY WOULDN'T GET WHATEVER ONE WHO LIVED IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES BUT SPLIT THEM UP IN FAVOR OF THE SOMETHING MORE VISIBLE SUCH AS WHERE THE INTERSTATE WAS.

>> Jeff: LET'S LOOK AT THE MAP OF THE STATE CONGRESS AT DISTRICTS.

WE HAVE EIGHT OF THEM.

THEY ARE, OF COURSE, ROUGHLY EQUAL POPULATION.

THE BIG FOCUS FOR MARYLAND DEMOCRATS IS THE EASTERN SHORE AND THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT STARTS THERE.

MARYLAND'S LONE REPUBLICAN IN CONGRESS ANDY HARRIS IS THERE AND IT WOULD LIKE TO FIND A WAY TO DRAW HIM OUT OF OFFICE.

PAT, WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS?

>> THE EASTERN SHORE ISN'T BIG ENOUGH POPULATION WISE TO SUPPORT AN ENTIRE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF ACRES ON THE SHORE BUT NOT AS MANY PEOPLE.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CROSS THE SUSAN ELLERBEE RIVER OR HAVE TO ACROSS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IN ORDER TO FILL OUT A FULL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO THE EASTERN SHORE WAS ATTACHED TO SOUTHERN MARYLAND WHEN ROY DYSON REPRESENTED THE DISTRICT.

I'M SURE FOLKS ON THE SHORE WOULD LOVE THEIR DISTRICT BUT THE NUMBERS DON'T SUPPORT IT.

SO AS YOU LOOK AT A QUESTION OF WHAT DOES REDISTRICTING LOOK LIKE IN THIS SCENARIO, YOU REALLY LOOKING AT A SITUATION WHERE DEMOCRATS MIGHT HAVE TO CONSIDER SPLITTING THE SHORE INTO A COUPLE OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

I'VE HEARD SOME SPECULATION THAT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE SHORE AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE SHORE COULD BE CROSSING BODIES OF WALLET IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

BUT THIS GOES BACK TO SOMETHING WALTER SAID ABOUT CIRCULAR DISTRICTS AND WHAT A.I.

WOULD DRAW THERE WILL BE JUDGMENT CALLS WHAT COMMUNITIES LOOK LIKE AND WHERE BEST TO CROSS THE BAY OR THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER.

>> Jeff: ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS MAP JUMP OUT AT YOU?

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATS' OPTIONS I THINK BACK TO THE LAST ROUND IN WHICH THE LEGISLATURE TRIED ONE THAT DID CROSS THE BAY BRIDGE AND EXTENDED IT CURIOUS IN ARTIFICIAL TENTACLE INTO EARN WESTERN ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION COUNTY IF YOU ARE GOING TO PICK THAT PART THAT WOULD HAVE LEAST IN COMMON WITH THE BECAUSE LOTS OF APARTMENTS LOTS OF COMMUTERS NOT MUCH NAUTICAL STUFF NOT MUCH CONNECTION TO THE BAY.

THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN BY A JUDGE AND THAT IS ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO DRAW.

AND WE SEE THIS IT, BILL FERGUSON EXPOLICE ITLY INVOKED WHAT THE COURTS COULD DO AND HAVE DONE AS PART OF THE CALCULATION AND YOU ZEBRA VLAD DOUGH SAYING IT IS NOT A PRECEDENT.

THEY ARE ALL THINKING ABOUT IT.

THEY MIGHT WANT TO AVOID THE PARTICULAR PATTERN THAT PROVOKED THE JUDGE IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT PROVOCATION IN THE LAST MAP.

AS PAT SAID, THERE ARE WAYS OF DOING IT IN A MORE NATURAL WAY THAT DO NOT IGNORE COMMONALITIES OF COMMUNITY AS MUCH.

SOME INVOLVE SPLITTING THE EASTERN SHORE.

BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO HARD TO MAKE IT WORK.

YOU CAN SLITHER A CORRIDOR DOWN INTO BALTIMORE CITY OR NEARBY.

BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE JUST AS OBVIOUS AS SENDING IT TO WESTERN ANNE ARUNDEL.

DIVIDING IT AND HAVING A NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HALF ATTACHED TO OTHER DISTRICTS WOULD BE IF SOMEHOW THE CONSULTANT MAY WHICH NO ONE IS GOING TO EXPECT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD ADVISE.

>> Jeff: THE KNOCK ON EFFECTS ANYTHING YOU DO TO THE EASTERN SHORE WHERE THE FIRST DISTRICT BROADLY IS GOING TO AFFECT THE ADJOINING DISTRICTS MAYBE OTHER DISTRICTS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE TWO FRESHMEN REPRESENTATIVES, JOHNNY IN THE SECOND AND SARAH IN THE THIRD AND SAY YOU NEED TO MOVE 30,000 VOTES IF THEY WANT TO BEAT ANDY HARRIS, YOU ARE GOING TO WINDUP GIVING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO SOME DEMOCRATS THAT THEY WANT TO PROTECT.

SO, PAT, HOW DO THEY DO THAT?

>> WELL, YOU DIDN'T MENTION THIS AT THE TOP AND I DIDN'T MENTION IT BUT I'VE WORKED FOR BOTH CONGRESSMEN OWE KRZYZEWSKI AND I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE BOTH DISCIPLINED CAMPAIGNERS.

AND I THINK SHOULD EITHER ONE OF THEM FIND THEMSELVES IN A NEW DISTRICT THEY WILL DO THE WORK THAT IS REQUIRED TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO THE NEW CONSTITUENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL BE OUT THERE ON THE DOORS ON THE PAVEMENT TALKING TO VOTERS AND MAKING THEIR CASE.

I DON'T WANT TO DOWN-PLAY CONGRESSMAN HARRIS HE IS A TENACIOUS CAMPAIGNER HIMSELF.

BUT I WOULD EXPECT EITHER REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE VERY WELL POSITIONED TO RUN VERY DISCIPLINED AND SMART CAMPAIGN AND TO PREVAIL.

BUT CERTAINLY NO INCUMBENT LIKES ADDING NEW COMMUNITIES.

THAT CREATES IF YOU THINK ABOUT MEMBER OF CONGRESS THEY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COUNTY LEADERS, WITH LOCAL LEADERS WITH CONSTITUENTS.

AND YOU KNOW, THE ACT OF HAVING TO GO OUT AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO 50, 100,000 NEW PEOPLE IT IS A LOT OF WORK IT IS NO SMALL CHORE.

BUT EITHER OF THOSE REPRESENTATIVES IS GOING TO BE VERY WELL POSITIONED TO DO THAT WORK AND PREVAIL.

>> Jeff: I'VE HEARD THE PHRASE IN THE CONTEXT OF GERRYMANDERING THAT THERE'S CRACKING AND PACKING.

AND I THINK, WELL, YOU FELLAS CAN EXPLAIN IT BETTER BUT YOU ARE TRYING TO PACK AS MANY OF YOUR OPPONENTS AS POSSIBLE INTO ONE PLACE OR SOMETIMES BREAK UP A PLACE LIKE THE EASTERN SHORE?

>> OF COURSE, PACKING WAS IN MANY WAYS HOW THE FIRST DISTRICT WAS OVER CYCLE AFTER CYCLE FIT AS MANY REPUBLICANS WERE PACKED INTO IT AS POSSIBLE AND THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR THE OLDIES TRICK, IN WESTERN MARYLAND.

BUT TO GET AT ZERO YOU HAVE TO ABANDON PACKING AS SUCH.

AND INSTEAD RESORT TO CRACKING WHICH IS TAKING CONCENTRATIONS OF THE OPPONENTS' VOTERS AND SPLITTING THEM UP AND THAT DOES POTENTIALLY CAUSE EFFECTS ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE.

THERE USED TO BE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WESTERN MARYLAND DISTRICT AND THE EASTERN SHORE BECAUSE THEY MET.

THE WE WERE MARYLAND WON FOR A CYCLE OR TWO WAS RUN ALONG THE PENNSYLVANIA BORDER PICKING UP MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN THE STATE WHERE IT WOULD MEET THE EASTERN SHORE DISTRICT NOT THROUGH GEOGRAPHIC LOGIC BUT POLITICAL LOGIC.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR PAT MENTION THE CONGRESS PEOPLE, PART OF THE DEMOCRATS' DILEMMA IN DRAWING MAPS HAS BEEN THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE PARTISAN BALANCE AND THEY ALSO WANT TO PROTECT INCUMBENTS IN PRIMARY CHALLENGES OR FROM LOSS OF CONTROL OF THEIR DISTRICTS WHICH WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR THE HOYER DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND.

ALSO BE IMPORTANT FOR THE BALTIMORE AREA DISTRICTS WHERE THAT AREN'T PERCEIVED AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN, POLITICAL STRONGHOLDS.

AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT FERGUSON'S LETTER TO HIS COLLEAGUES WAS THAT THE BROAD HINTS THERE WERE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS ONE SCRAMBLED LOT THEY SAW SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES MIGHT BE HARMFUL TO THEIR POLITICAL INTERESTS.

IF YOU KIND OF RULE OUT MEDDLING WITH THOSE AREAS, THEN, EXPANSION INTO THE BALTIMORE COUNTY OR INTO ANNE ARUNDEL WOULD BE SUGGESTED AND THERE IS THE QUESTION THEY ARE NOT AS RICH IN DEMOCRATS.

THEY ARE ALREADY MORE BALANCED DISTRICTS.

CAN YOU TAKE AWAY ENOUGH DEMOCRATS FROM THOSE DISTRICTS WITHOUT AND THAT GETS US BACK TO PAT'S COMMENT.

>> Jeff: WALTER YOU FOLLOW THE COURTS, I KNOW, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE FIRST RULE OF GERRYMANDERING UNTIL THIS YEAR HAD BEEN YOU DENY YOU WERE GERRYMANDERING YOU WERE DRAWING LINES BASED ON COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST OR WHATEVER YOU WOULD SAY TO AVOID SAYING THAT OVERTLY WE'RE DOING NASTY POLITICAL WORK.

BUT NOW, EVERYBODY IS SAYING THAT AT THE OUTSET.

WHERE WE'RE HAVING POTENTIAL SPECIAL SESSION TO GET RID OF CONGRESSMAN HARRIS.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS: DOES THAT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE COURTS TO FIND A WAY TO IGNORE THE QUESTION?

>> WELL, YOU GOT TO DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL COURTS AND THE STATE COURTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN DIFFERENT PATHS ON THIS.

AND MUCH OF THE COMMENT, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF PEOPLE GOING TO COURT SWEARING UP AND DOWN THEY HAD ONLY CROSSED POLITICAL MOTIVES FOR GERRYMANDERING IS THE SUPREME COURT HAS OPENED THAT DOOR ALL THE WAY.

AND SAID THERE WILL NOT BE A CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING BUT THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ANYTHING WITH RACIAL EFFECTS.

THAT IS IN FLUX ALSO.

FOR THE MOMENT IT IS GOOD LAW THAT YOU CAN FILE A CHALLENGE BASED ON RACE CONSCIOUSNESS AND AT LEAST GET PROBABLY THE TRACTION TO HAVE IT HEARD AND MAYBE WIN.

SO THAT'S WHY IN TEXAS AND OTHER PLACES THEY ARE SWEARING UP AND DOWN IT'S ALL POLITICS.

IN MARYLAND IT'S DIFFERENT.

BECAUSE THE DECISION BY JUDGE STRUCK DOWN WAS BASED ON THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION.

WHATNOT RAISED AND SO LIKELY CHALLENGE I SAY LIKELY BUT THE CERTAIN CHALLENGE THAT WILL BE FILED AGAINST REDISTRICTING THIS TIME MIGHT CITE A VOTING RIGHTS ACT RATIONALE IF THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE SOMETHING THEY CAN SEIZE ON TO.

MUCH MORE LIKELY THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO REPEAT THEIR WIN ON THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE UNRELATED TO RACE.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WALTER OLSON AND PAT MURRAY WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: NOW WITH OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS HERE IS NANCY YAMADA.

>> WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING ON OUR OWN.

IT'S OKAY.

TO PUT YOUR HANDOUT AND SAY I NEED HELP.

>> THAT'S WHAT WHITNEY LEWIS LEARNED AFTER GOING THROUGH A YEARLONG PROGRAM TO HELP VETERANS HEAL, GROW AND TAKE BACK THEIR LIVES.

FOR LEWIS CHOSEN TO TAKE PART IN THE UNBROKEN SPIRIT PROGRAM WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LONG-LAST ADDRESS THE AFFECTS OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, BRAIN INJURY AND EXPOSURE THAT LED TO HER HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE NAVY IN 2005.

>> NOW I'VE DONE ALL THE THERAPIES.

AND YOU KNOW THIS PROGRAM HAS DONE SO MUCH MORE FOR ME.

IT'S JUST SOMETIMES IT'S JUST WHAT YOU NEED, BUT YOU GOT TO MAKE THAT FIRST STEP.

>> THE PROGRAM WORKS IN GROUPS OF 15 WITH VETERANS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY OF ALL AGES AND BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY.

THE THREE PHASES ARE FOCUSED ON MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.

>> MANY OF THEM THINK THEY ARE ALONE THAT NOBODY HAD THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAD.

AS THEY GET THE TEAMS TOGETHER IN THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THEY HAVE A LOT OF SHARED EXPERIENCES.

>> MEGHAN WAYNE IS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR UNBROKEN SPIRIT.

>> WE DO SEMINARS EVERY WEEK.

THERE'S HOMEWORK IN THE PROGRAM AND A CURRICULUM.

VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON FINDING YOUR PURPOSE.

CREATING THAT GROWTH MINDSET, CREATING YOUR OWN ROADMAP.

>> AFTER SIX MONTHS OF ON-LINE INTERACTION THE GROUP MEETS IN PERSON FOR A SPORTS PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, OR THEY CAN APPLY FOR A BACKPACK WILDERNESS EXPEDITION FIVE GRUELING DAYS COVERING 22 MILES WHILE CARRYING FIVE TO SIX POUNDS OF GEAR.

>> PHYSICAL AS A TEAM BUILDS A LOT OF COMRADEDY BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THE CHALLENGE TOGETHER AND THE OTHER IS THE PHYSICAL NATURE OF BEING TIRED AND WEARING YOURSELF DOWN AND IT MAKES YOU A LOT MORE SUSCEPTIBLE OR BEING MORE OPEN.

AT NIGHT WHEN WE DO THE CAMP FIRE TALKS FOLKS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE MORE OPEN EMOTIONALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE PHYSICALLY TIRED.

>> THE LAST PHASE OF THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT COMING UP WITH A PLAN TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

FOR LEWIS... >> THERE IS WORK INVOLVED.

AND YOU CAN'T BE SCARED OF THE WORK.

>> SHE SAYS THE PROGRAM AND THE GROUP EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED HER LIFE ALLOWING HER TO TRUST HERSELF AND BUILD A BETTER CONNECTION WITH HER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

>> YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY NOBODY IS GOING TO MAKE THIS CHANGE FOR YOU.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHANGE FOR YOURSELF.

AND MAKING THAT CHANGE FOR YOURSELF, IS GOING TO MAKE LIFE SO MUCH BETTER.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: 2025 HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS AROUND THE STATE.

IN OCTOBER, WE SPOKE WITH GUSTAVO TORRES, LONG TIME LEADER OF THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUP CASA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO RETIRE?

>> JEFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

WE DECIDE IN OUR FAMILY THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR PRIORITY RIGHT NOW SO WE ARE VERY PLEASED ABOUT TAKE CARE OF MY IN-LAWS AND BE WITH MY WIFE AND BE WITH MY NEPHEWINGS AND NIECES AND THAT IS THE PRIORITY.

THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE MAKE THAT DECISION TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

SO IT IS A GREAT DECISION WE BELIEVE THE ORGANIZATION IS READY TO GO.

WE ARE GOING TO IDENTIFY THE NEW LEADER.

WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO WE ARE GOING TO GIVE GREAT NUTS TO THE COMMUNITY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW LEADER WHO WILL KEEP WITH THE SAME VALUE THS AND COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT AND STRUGGLES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU INITIALLY JOINED?

CASA WAS STARTED 40 YEARS AGO.

YOU JOINED MAYBE FIVE OR SIX YEARS AFTER THAT.

THIS IS A LARGE GROUP NOW.

IT WAS NOT A LARGE GROUP THEN.

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER WHEN I STARTED IN 1991, IT WAS THREE STAFF MEMBERS AND WE WERE LOCATED IN A CHURCH.

OF TACOMA PARK IN A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THEY WELCOME US.

THEY WELCOMED THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY AND THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND TOGETHER, A GROUP OF U.S.

CITIZENS AND REFUGEES DECIDE TO CREATE CASA TO WELCOME THOSE COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE ENGLISH CLASSES TO PROVIDE CLOTHING, TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT WAS THE TIME WHEN I STARTED TO WORK IN CASA.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRED ME TO WORK IN ONE AREA THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WHICH WAS ORGANIZING DAY LABORERS.

THAT IS THE WAY HOW IT STARTED AN ORGANIZATION, ORGANIZING DAY LABORERS TRYING TO FIND A LOCATION IN UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD AND LONG BRANCH RIGHT THERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND.

THAT IS THE REASON THEY HIRED ME.

I WAS VERY PROUD TO WORK WITH THEM AND I IDENTIFIED OUR FIRST WELCOME CENTER FOR CASA DURING THAT TIME.

>> Jeff: AND NOW, THE ORGANIZATION HAS ABOUT 150 STAFF MEMBERS.

WHAT DOES CASA DO ON A DAILY BASIS?

>> WE PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE PROVIDE ENGLISH CLASSES WE PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, LEGAL SERVICES, HEALTHCARE.

AND ALSO WE DO EMPOWERMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE CREATE ANOTHER ORGANIZATION CALLED CASA IN ACTION TO DO POLITICAL WORK, TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT ORGANIZATION DO ALL OF THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH HELP PEOPLE TO BECOME U.S.

CITIZENS AND REGISTER TO VOTE AND TO VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS LOCALLY AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> Jeff: WHAT INITIALLY BROUGHT YOU TO THE UNITED STATES?

AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WERE YOUR AMBITIONS AT THE TIME PROBABLY NOT TO BE THE DECADES LONG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A GROUP CALLED CASA?

>> JEFF, I STARTED TO WORK AS A DAY LABORER IN 1991 WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRED ME.

I ARRIVED LIKE MANY, MANY IMMIGRANTS TRYING TO FIND MUCH BETTER LIFE TO ME AND MY FAMILY AND TO EVERYBODY.

SO I WORK AS A DAY LABORER.

AND THEN I HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN MY ORGANIZATION.

WHEN I WAS IN MY COUNTRY, I USED TO BE A LEAD ORGANIZER I ALSO WORK IN A UNION AS WELL AS WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE WORK IN DIFFERENT ACTIONS IN COLLEGE.

I COME WITH THIS BACKGROUND FOR JUSTICE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DIGNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY I WAS SO PLEASED WHEN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASKED ME TO JOIN CASA TO KEEP DOING WHAT I AM GOOD AT DOING.

>> Jeff: WAS THERE ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE, YOU MENTIONED HELPING DAY LABORERS.

SO CERTAINLY THAT'S PART OF IT.

BUT GOING FORWARD YOU HAD BIG POLITICAL VICTORIES IN MARYLAND IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSES.

WHAT STANDS OUT AS VICTORIES FOR GUSTAVO TORRES PERSONALLY AND FOR CASA?

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS HOW MARYLAND BECOME TRUE PRO IMMIGRANT STATE.

THAT WELCOMED THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CRISIS WE FACE AROUND THE NATION, WE SEE LEADERS WELCOME OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO ME IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT IN MARYLAND AND ALSO IN VIRGINIA WE SEE HOW OUR IMPACT HAPPENED WHEN THE POLICYMAKERS AND THE SOCIETY IN MARYLAND AND IN VIRGINIA WELCOME THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

AND, OF COURSE, WHEN YOU SEE DRIVER'S LICENSE IN BOTH STATES WHEN YOU SEE IN STATE TUITION FOR OUR FAMILIES IN BOTH STATES, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE CARE, WHO RECEIVE HEALTHCARE, AND WHO RECEIVE SOCIAL SERVICES, TO ME IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY VICTORY.

AND ALSO, JEFF, I WANT TO TELL YOU WHEN I SEE DAY LABORERS I HELPED BACK 20, 30 YEARS AGO AND NOW THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES.

HELPING OHER COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE WE HELPED THEM TO CREATE THE SMALL BUSINESSES WE HELPED THEM TO BECOME U.S.

CITIZENS WE EMPOWERED THEM AND NOW THEY ARE EMPOWERING OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY VICTORY.

TO ME THAT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENT.

NOT PERSONALLY FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE.

THE VISION WE HAVE IN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT IS ON EXTRAORDINARY VICTORY BECAUSE WE ARE INTEGRATING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE SEEING OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE PART OF THIS GREAT SOCIETY.

>> Jeff: TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT.

WE ARE SEEING A VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I NEVER IMAGINED THAT IN THE HISTORY OF MY WORK AND THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, WE SEE THE ATTACKS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN OF THIS ADMINISTRATION AGAINST OUR FAMILIES.

YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN ILLINOIS IN CHICAGO AND CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON DC WHERE SO MANY MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S HORRENDOUS SITUATION.

IT'S I BELIEVE THAT IT'S HUMILIATION AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS AN ATTACK AGAINST SOCIETIES AND ATTACK AGAINST THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE MAKING A CONTRIBUTION EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT OUR MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO RESIST NOT ONLY RESIST BUT THEY ARE GOING TO WIN.

BECAUSE THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY IS VERY CLEAR.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS.

AND THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACKS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

BUT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE TRIED AGAIN AND I BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SHORT-TERM IS GOING TO BE A FEW YEARS WE ARE GOING TO BE UNDER THIS TREMENDOUS ATTACKS.

AND THAT IS THE REASON I BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO RESIST AND WIN AT THE END.

>> Jeff: YOUR PARTING MESSAGE THERE WAS A VIDEO I SAW TALKING TO THE LEADERSHIP, THE MEMBERS OF CASA, YOU SAID NOW IT'S UP TO YOU.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CASA BECOME IN THE FUTURE?

>> I REALLY WANT CASA TO BE AN ORGANIZATION THAT KEEP FIGHTING FOR DIGNITY AND FOR JUSTICE.

THAT KEEP FIGHTING TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT KEEP FIGHTING TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO NOW RETIRED CASA LEADER GUSTAVO TORRES.

AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪♪]